New KIA Ceed SW – Simply Wonderful.

Hot on the heels of their wonderful new Ceed hatchback, KIA has launched their new Ceed SW (Sportswagon) to great applause. With the previous generation SW accounting for an impressive 40% of overall Ceed sales, the new SW is an important car for the Korean car manufacturing giant.

Increased Dimensions;

The new SW shares everything, except the rear, with the Ceed hatchback, while an extended rear overhang provides the new SW with an additional 97-litres of space over the previous generation model. The boot lip is also substantially lower, with the lower lift-over height making it easier to load heavier items into the boot. Compared with its predecessor, it is 95mm longer at 4600mm, 20mm wider at 1800mm and 20mm lower at 1465mm. It is the more spacious of the two estates offered in the new KIA Ceed family – a shooting-brake model (named Proceed) offers reduced boot space in exchange for sleeker styling.

Eye-Catching Style;

As with its hatchback sibling, at the front of the new SW there is the familiar ‘tiger nose’ grille and castellated upper windscreen, while the swept-back headlight design and lowered, widened, front air intake is reminiscent of KIA’s stylish and sporty Stinger GT. The eye-catching rear LED Daytime Running Lights give the new Ceed SW greater visibility and recognition on the road. The striking design is a signature feature of the new Kia Ceed family, while ‘Ice Cube’ LED daytime running lights and High Beam Assist (HBA) also come as standard. The sporty low profile is extended by the chrome-framed windows, while sleek roof rails give you the freedom to add whatever you need.

More Spacious & Gracious;

The new KIA Ceed SW offers more room to enjoy your day. It earns the Sportswagon badge by combining its assured, athletic design with masses of versatile space and a dynamic drive, ensuring an exciting driving experience. C-segment estate customers’ expectations go beyond cargo capacity, so KIA’s designers have ensured versatility and usability are key strengths for the Ceed SW, making it one of the most practical cars in its class. With the rear seats folded, the boot floor is completely flat. Every Ceed SW features an underfloor box to secure or hide smaller items, as well as a tonneau cover and a bag hook to prevent groceries and other items rolling around the load bay. Cargo capacity is an impressive 625-litres with the rear seat backs in place, and a huge 1,694-litres with the rear seats folded. This is more space than you will find in a BMW 5-Series Tourer, and just 50-litres less than in the, mega-spacious, VW Passat Estate (both cars from the market segment above the Ceed).

Specification & Engines;

 The new Ceed SW is only available in one trim – K3. This generously-equipped model comes complete with items such as 16” alloy wheels, LED daytime-running-lights (ice-cube effect), rear LED lamps, cornering lamps, tinted windows, electric windows front & rear, electrically folding & heated exterior mirrors, cloth & artificial leather seats, leather multi-function steering wheel, leather-wrapped gear lever, USB charger, manual temperature control, immobiliser, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth with voice recognition, 7” LCD infotainment screen with DAB & RDS, rear camera, rear parking sensors, wireless phone charging, cruise control, electronic stability control, hill assist control, vehicle stability management, lane keep assist, high beam assist, driver attention warning, forward collision avoidance, and many other comfort, convenience and safety features.

Engine options in the new Ceed SW consist of a 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol engine producing 120bhp, and a 4-cylinder 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine with 115bhp. Annual road tax is just €200 and €190 respectively, thanks to impressively low Co2 emissions. Both engines are available with a standard 6-speed manual gearbox, with no automatic gearbox currently available. A 7-speed automatic gearbox is, however, available in the SW’s hatchback sibling.

Test Car;

My test car was a new Ceed SW K3 in 1.0-litre T-GDi guise, and was finished in striking Black Pearl metallic paint – highlighting the chrome-framed window surrounds, and front grille, to maximum effect. With 120bhp and 172Nm of torque available from the T-GDi engine, the Ceed SW is surprisingly agile, and is capable of fuel consumption as low as 5.2-litres for every 100km driven on a combined driving cycle. This front-wheel-drive car is capable of a 0-100km sprint in a respectible 10.9-seconds, and can reach a top speed of 192km/h (where permitted). Front suspension is by MacPherson struts and an anti-roll bar. A multi-link arrangement with trailing arm and anti-roll bar are employed at the rear. Kia has tweaked the front spring rates, ratcheting up stiffness by 40%, and the torsional rigidity of the front stabiliser has been reduced by 22% – the aim of these modifications being greater mechanical grip and more incisive handling, causes also helped by the car’s wider axle tracks. On the road the new Ceed SW is composed, sure-footed and drives with poise and precision. The cloth & leather-effect seats in my test car were very supportive, and there is ample adjustment available on the driver’s seat to ensure that, even tall drivers, can get comfortable behind the wheel. Thankfully, rear seat comfort hasn’t been forgotten – space in the rear seats is very nearly as generous as in the front. As a result, there is enough room for a six-foot tall passenger to sit behind an equally tall driver, and the soft central seat and almost flat floor means there is space for three adults to sit side-by-side.

Verdict & Pricing;

Overall, the new KIA Ceed SW is a smartly styled, practical and economical estate car, which combines high quality craftsmanship with an impressive level of standard equipment. The Ceed SW is yet further proof that not only has KIA closed the gap on many of its European rivals, but has edged past some of them. If you’re looking for a family estate car, the new Ceed SW should be at the top of your list. The 1.0-litre T-GDi K3 model is very competitively priced at just €25,295 (ex-works), with the 1.6-litre CRDi model costing an additional €2,655. KIA’s famous 7-year/150,000km warranty is standard across the entire KIA passenger car range.

Visit www.kia.ie for further information.